Dr Kelsey Renner: I completed my Bachelor of Veterinary Science at Massey University in 2019. Following this, I moved to the North Shore with my fiancé, and completed a rotating internship followed by an internal medicine specialty internship and a three year internal medicine residency at the Animal Referral Centre (ARC). I’m now working as an Internal medicine registrar at the ARC Central hospital. My favorite patients are cats and cat-sized dogs. My fiance and I have a 3 year old cat called Bonnie, who lives a life of luxury. Outside of work I enjoy growing vegetables, tending to my many houseplants and discovering new cafes and restaurants with my friends.

My presentation is about my research journey during my residency training, specifically focused on my research on the treatment of feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) in cats in New Zealand. This was my first time being involved in research, and it had a steep learning curve. I’d like to demonstrate that it’s possible to do valuable research in private veterinary practice.

FIP is a viral disease in cats, caused by a mutated form of the feline coronavirus. Until recently there wasn’t a treatment for FIP, and almost all cats who developed the disease died. During the COVID 19 pandemic, antiviral drugs used for COVID in people were also trialled in cats with FIP, and a successful treatment for FIP was discovered. 

In New Zealand, we only have legal access to one of these medications, remdesivir, which is only commercially manufactured as an injectable medication. Remdesivir requires daily painful injections for 12 weeks, and can be prohibitively expensive. These factors limited its use, and it was devastating to see cats continue to die from this disease despite there being a cure. Myself and my colleagues at ARC had remdesivir compounded into a capsule formulation, and used it in cats whose owners couldn’t afford the injections or whose cats didn’t tolerate them. Fortunately, this was successful and we treated many cats with remdesivir capsules. 

My research, which is the first research on FIP conducted in New Zealand, was focused on evaluating the pharmacokinetics of oral remdesivir to determine the ideal dose for cats with FIP, and report the treatment outcomes in these cats.

Dr. Sarah Killick: Dr Sarah Killick is the Principal Biosecurity Advisor at Auckland Council, where she provides technical advice and leads strategic initiatives to protect the region’s indigenous species and ecosystems from pest plants, animals, and pathogens. Her role includes preparing the next proposed Regional Pest Management Plan, which will guide pest management in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland from 2020 to 2030. Sarah’s research background is primarily in plant–pathogen interactions, with a focus on the impacts of kauri dieback, and has expanded to include pest plant and animal distribution, impact, and management. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Biodiversity Management) from Unitec, and a Master of Science and PhD from the University of Auckland.

This keynote explores how strategic partnerships between local government and tertiary education are strengthening biosecurity and pest management outcomes in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland. Through collaborative research, innovation, and shared information, these partnerships are delivering tangible benefits for Auckland Council’s environmental objectives—enhancing pest detection, increasing biosecurity awareness, and supporting the management of harmful pest plants, animals, and pathogens. At the same time, they are helping to build the biosecurity workforce of the future by providing students with real-world experience, career pathways, and opportunities to contribute to meaningful environmental work. The presentation will highlight examples of successful collaboration and reflect on how these relationships can be deepened to meet emerging biosecurity challenges.